Former Bewley's still vacant as planners promote retail

The former Bewley's Oriental Cafe at 13 South Great George's Street still lies vacant 15 months after the franchise agreement for the restaurant terminated and the premises closed.

The future of the former cafe remains undecided while protracted negotiations between the leaseholder, Lamperry Ltd, and the landlord of the building continue over the sale of the lease.

According to Anne Kelly of Lamperry Ltd - which currently holds the franchise of Bewley's Dundrum, Nutgrove, Stillorgan and Tallaght outlets - it proved difficult to make the South Great George's Street restaurant a viable proposition.

"We found it very hard to make it work. Rather than try and run it we decided to close it down in March 1999 and to sell on the lease."

One company which has long expressed interest in the lease is Sherland Entertainments, the owners of The Globe bar which is next door to the former Bewley's premises at number 11 South Great George's Street.

Eoin Foyle of Sherland Entertainments says he is hopeful that the "technicality" between the landlord and leaseholder will soon be resolved. Sherland Entertainments also own the Front Lounge on Parliament Street and Gubu on Capel Street.

The location of the former Bewley's South Great George's Street restaurant could well have been a factor in its demise, as its fate has not been in keeping with the success of other Bewley's cafes.

The Campbell Bewley Group reported a 50 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £4.4 million last year from £2.96 million. Sales rose 18 per cent to £180 million in the year.

Trendy bars seem to fare better on George's Street, which has developed a reputation for its vibrant nightlife. The George, Hogans, the Capitol, the Globe and the more established Long Hall are popular haunts and Capital Bars Plc have plans for a new addition a few doors from The George - a Japanese style minimalist cafe bar.

There are concerns, however, over some city centre streets like South Great George's Street. Zoned as category one areas under the 1999 development plan - meaning that they are primarily shopping streets - the fear is that they are becoming subsumed by pubs and other non-retail concerns. This may affect future planning applications for non-retail businesses in the area.

An Bord Pleanala has turned down an application by Supermacs to open at 22 Dame Street, which is on the corner of South Great George's Street and is also in a category one area, because it would have meant the loss of a retail unit.

According to Suzanne Kehely, executive planner, Dublin Corporation, the concern is that these areas will experience a loss of day time activity, "Pubs are very much a night-time trade which might contribute to a deadening of these streets during the day."